The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-12-23

night, cause me to start with alarm. may
be latei can not rid myself Of the notion
that they are signaling me, that the ovcDseer
will not bring pair Of ugly, vicious, block
brows together il am few seconds
behind time.
was often late by very few seconds. II
he had only locked my pitiful earnings I
should not 90 much have cared, but he
scolded in big, brnwling accents and held
me up as an example of shiftlessness to the
vulgar factory crowd. had to bear it, for
had to live, and as my latencss was always
caused by my necessary attention to the
twins, knew that, though men chided me,
was doing right in the sight of the angels,
and that comforted me, and tried to not
hear the loud voices Of bold-faced young
women as they jeercd and laughed in coarse
sympathy with the oversecr; enjoying my
discontinue and pandering to the powers
that be at one and the same time.
was poor enough those days; but hours
blacker than these stole like dread spect-
ers from the charnel house of Time.
Ono day was discharged. was late for
the :cnth time-t'for tho tenth and last
time" the overseer said, as he pushed the
little wage due into my nerveless hand.
For the tenth and last time, girl! I've
been tolerant Of your fine lady ways long
enough-you are discharged
The twins comforted me that night as best
they could. After long fatiguing walk in
vain search for work it was sweet at twi-
light to sit alone with my treasures, and
have their dear arms fold about my neck.
was 50 young, too; it seemed As if l had
actually been child with them when our
widowed mother lived; but, when we saw
the cold earth take her to its bosom, aged
with my great grief and now drear life
time of experience and sorrow lay between
me and tho brown-eyed children, who, ut
nine years of age, c0mprehcnded butvague-
~ their sisters grief and care.
Factory work was repulsive to me, who
loved quiet and clean linens and dainty sur
roundings: but even factory work the most
dist asteful was impossible to get, found;
and two days tramping brought me only an
empty pocket, empty larder and empty pros
poets!
And then came Christmas Eve-Christ-
mas Eve, when ali should be joy and glad
ness and radia nee and plenty! looked into
the box 10 had fashioned into what he
called "pantry"; there was half of o loaf
there. some crackers and bit Of cheese.
We were not hungry now, but breakfast
would clear the box of crust and crumbs,
and after that-what! All we had eaten for
three days past had come from the united
earnings Of Josie and 10, who sold papers
while traversed the long, cold, city streets.
And Christmas was to dawn upon us as it
ever dawns upon the pOOr-in its own
bright, bitter nockery Of all gladness!
Santa Claus finds it impossible to tread the
alleys Of Poverty Row, and o
great lump rose in my throat at the sight Of
two poor, little faded stockings hung near
the straw pile that served US for = bed in
common. oh, the sweet, simple faith of
childhood! Tears came to vail my sight,
and each great, bitter drop was like bub-
BILE that reflects more beauteous tints than
ever were in the earth or sky. Whence
come they. In these salt tears found the
picture Of my childhood's home, where
mother lived among US and trouble was IN
born. I saw her sweet face close to mine;
saw her hands reach out to me, and then
The dream-angel must have visited me,
for awokc with q start to find the last red
ember only tiny spark upon the hearth.
NV dream comforted me greatly, and with
a queer feeling of something oddly resem-
bling content, I, early as it was, slipped of
my worn shoes and let down my hair for
the night.
Such hair had then-so long, so lustrous,
with the CLINT of the SUMS own sheen
amidst its heavy masses.
'.Make me doll, sister," Josie once had
said; land cover its head with a bit Of your
lovely hair" Right willingly would l have
sacrificed every tress Of it if-a great
thought seized me; l cried out like enc daft,
and bound up the heavy masses with eager,
hands,.
asleep, little darling" cried in ecstatic
whisper, ''sleep and dream of glorious
Christmas-tide; for it shall come to you BY
the power of living gold"'
Out into the gloom Of cold, deserted streets
beyond them into the glare Of shop-lit
avenues-jostled by servants Of Santa Claus
excited. dazed, happy in the thought of my
sacrifice hurried upon my way.
Icame, at last, to halt before window
behind whose one great crystal pane wax
en- image Of fair impossible beauty turned